Casing having multiple printed layers which provide a protected decorative area and unprotected area on which writing can be formed

ABSTRACT

A container casing for containing recording media, such as tape-shaped or disc-shaped recording media, has an underlying layer, a colored layer and a protective layer. The underlying layer is formed by printing on the outer surface of the main casing member. The colored layer is formed on the underlying layer by color printing based on the picture information. The protective layer is formed on the colored layer for protecting the colored layer. The protective layer has an opening for exposing its partial portion to outside.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a casing for housing a recording mediumand a printing method for forming printing on the casing. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a casing for housing therecording medium bearing a printing on its outer surface and a methodfor making a printing on the outer surface of the casing.

2. Background of the Invention

A casing for housing a recording medium, such as a disc cartridgecontaining an optical disc or a magneto-optical disc, or a tape cassettecontaining such as a magnetic tape, usually is provided with printing ismade of a so-called logo-mark for indicating that the product is made bya particular company, or various designs for enhancing the commercialvalue of the product. Such printing on the casing for the recordingmedium is usually performed in the following manner.

First, a manuscript having the design drawn thereon for printing on thecasing is color-separated by a color CCD scanner. Positive color filmsassociated with the separated colors and then the master plates for therespective colors are prepared. After calibration, test printing is madeon a cassette and adjustment is made of the ink viscosity. Then, afterregistration of the color master plates, printing is formed on thecasing.

Meanwhile, the picture pattern printed on the outer surface of thecasing for the recording medium is supplied from the manufacturer, whilethere is no room for an ultimate or end user or an intermediate user tomake his or her original design.

Thus, the casing cannot be adapted to cope with the demand raised by theultimate user or the intermediate user for printing desired pictures ordesigns for presentation or publicity, so that the application of thecasing medium cannot be enlarged as desired. Besides, the paper index orpaper label as used heretofore is not satisfactory for presentation orpublicity in view of permanent storage and product quality. On the otherhand, until now there has been a lack of a container casing for arecording medium in which a picture pattern such as a logo-mark(ornamental design letter), or a variety of designs intended for raisingthe commercial value of the product, or showing features of therecording contents recorded on the recording medium, and an index foradding the title, logo or characters for event holding by theintermediate user, have been combined into one printing pattern.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide acontainer casing for a recording medium which resolves theabove-mentioned problem.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a printingmethod for a container casing for a recording medium which resolves theabove-mentioned problem.

According to the present invention, there is provided a container casingfor recording media having a main casing member having the recordingmedia housed therein, including a colored layer formed on the outersurface of the main casing member, and a protective layer formed on thecolored layer for protecting the colored layer. The protective layer hasan opening for exposing a part of the colored layer.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a method forprinting a container casing for recording media having a main casingmember having the recording media housed therein, comprising the stepsof forming a colored layer on the outer surface of the main casingmember, and selectively forming a protective layer on the surface of thecolored layer excluding a portion thereof.

It will be noted that, by forming the colored layer on the outer surfaceof the casing main member having the recording medium housed therein, itbecomes possible to annex the mark for asserting that the product ismanufactured by a particular company, a design appended for enhancingthe commercial value of the product, the pattern featuring the contentsof the recording medium or the pattern having an index for the ultimateuser. Besides, since an opening is provided in the protective layerprotecting the colored layer for partially exposing the colored layer,letters or symbols may be entered by a suitable writing instrument onthe exposed portion of the colored layer functioning as the index.

In addition,. the protective layer protecting the colored layer providedon the outer surface of the casing main member having the recordingmedium housed therein is formed on the entire surface of the coloredlayer excluding its partial region. Since an opening is formed in thismanner in the portion of the protective layer in register using a indexof the colored layer, letters, symbols or the like may be entered viathe opening with the writing instrument.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views showing an embodiment of thecasing for the recording medium as applied to a tape cassette forhousing a video tape or an audio tape.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a laminated structure of aprinting layer formed on the casing shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views showing an embodiment of thecasing for the recording medium as applied to a disc cartridge having amagnetic disk, an optical disc or a magneto-optical disc rotatablyhoused therein.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an arrangement of aprinting system for implementing the printing method according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a full-color printingsection of the printing system shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing printing head portion of thefull-color printing section of the printing system shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the full-color printingsection of the printing system shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing essential parts of aprinting head fitted with a profiling sensor.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged side view of FIG. 8 for illustrating the state ofprinting by the printing head provided with the profiling sensor.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view showing essential parts of aprinting head provided with a laser displacement sensor.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged side view of FIG. 10 for illustrating the stateof printing by the printing head provided with the profiling sensor.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged side view of a printing head fitted with separatelaser displacement sensors for illustrating the state of printing by theprinting head.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing the state of printing on a video tapecassette by the printing head provided with the profiling sensor.

FIG. 14 is a side view showing the state of printing on a tape cassetteby the printing head provided with the profiling sensor.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the state of printing on aprofiled printing object by the printing head fitted with a laserdisplacement sensor.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which white solidprinting and full-color printing are performed sequentially on theprofiled printing object.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view showing an arrangement of atransporting mechanism of the printing system shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a handling mechanism of theprinting system shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a container vessel used forclamping tape cassettes.

FIG. 20 is a side view showing a container vessel used for clamping tapecassettes.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing an example of reliably positioningthe tape cassette on the container vessel, for the printing objects byproviding a positioning pin on a tray main member.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a container vessel for printingobjects used for clamping plastic sheets.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing a container vessel for printingobjects having its tray main member formed with plural suction holes forevacuating the tray main member.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view showing a container vessel forprinting objects having its tray main member formed with plural suctionholes for evacuating the tray main member.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing a container vessel for printingobjects in which movable clamps are provided at diagonal portions of thetray main member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2 and 3, preferred embodiments of the casingfor the recording medium according to the present invention, in the formof a tape cassette rotatably housing a video tape or an audio tape and adisc cartridge rotatably housing a magnetic disk, an optical disc or amagneto-optical disc, will be explained in detail.

In FIGS. 1A and 1B, a casing W for the recording medium according to thepresent invention is in the form of the tape cassette. A picturepatterns 102 is printed with two or more colors on the cassette surfacesexcepting a surface in which a transparent window 101 is formed. A backlabel 103 is bonded on the back surface of the tape cassette W.

The picture pattern 102 printed on the surfaces of the tape cassette Wis a logo-mark asserting that the tape cassette is a product of acertain and certain company or one of various designs intended forenhancing the commercial value of the tape cassette. If the recordingmedium housed within the tape cassette W is a video cassette, forexample, the picture pattern 102 is a design showing the features ofrecording contents of the video tape, such as a scene of an athleticmeeting or a shot of a motion picture.

The picture pattern 102 includes an index 104 into which the letters orsymbol marks may be made using a writing instrument 114, such as apencil.

For forming the printing surface 102, a highly adhesive layer 110 isfirst formed on the outer surface of the tape cassette W, as shown inFIG. 2. On the highly adhesive layer 110 is formed a white ink receptivelayer 111, on which a colored layer 112 is formed. A top coating layer113 is formed as an upper most layer to complete the printing surface.The compositions and the functions of these layers 110 to 113 will beexplained subsequently in detail.

With the tape cassette W, the top coating layer 113 is formed on theportion of the surface of the colored layer 112 with the exception ofthe index 104 in which letters or symbol marks can be written with thewriting instrument 114.

FIG. 3 shows the casing for the recording medium according to thepresent invention in the form of a disc cartridge W. On the surfaceportion of the disc cartridge W, excluding the area set for a shutter121 and for movement of the shutter 121, there is printed the picturepattern 102 with two or more colors.

Similarly to the picture pattern printed on the tape cassette W, thepicture pattern 102 printed on the disc cartridge W is a so-calledlogo-mark for asserting that the product belongs to a particularcompany, or various designs for enhancing the commercial value of theproduct. If the disc cartridge houses a disc for music, the picturepattern 102 is a photo for the face of the artist or a landscapecorresponding to the mental image of the music.

The picture pattern 102 includes an index 104 in which to enter lettersor symbol marks with the writing instrument 114.

For forming the printing surface 102, a highly adhesive layer 110 isfirst formed on the outer surface of the tape cassette W, as in the caseof the tape cassette W shown in FIG. 2. On the highly adhesive layer 110is formed a white ink receptive layer 111, on which a colored layer 112is formed. A top coating layer 113 is formed as an upper most layer tocomplete the printing surface. With the disc cartridge W, the topcoating layer 113 is similarly formed on the portion of the surface ofthe colored layer 112 excluding the index 104 in which to enter theletter or symbol marks with the writing instrument 114.

It will be seen that, with the tape cassette and the disc cartridge Waccording to the present invention, the index 102 in which to enterletters or symbol marks with the writing instrument 114 is included in aportion of the picture pattern 102 printed on its outer surface. As aresult thereof, it becomes possible to enter an explanation of therecording contents or the title without impairing the quality of picturepatterns, such as logo-marks asserting that the tape cassette or disccartridge is the product of a particular company or various designsappended for enhancing the commercial value of the product or statingthe features of the recording contents. Besides, the tape cassette orthe disc cartridge may be used as gifts or events of the ultimate useror the intermediate user for enhancing its usage and application of thetape cassette or the disc cartridge W.

The tape cassettes or disc cartridges W may be easily put into order orstored by relying on the indication on a back label 103 as known per seand entry of the letters or the like on the index 102 in accordance withthe present embodiment.

If the picture pattern 102 printed on the outer surface of the tapecassette or disc cartridge W is a design showing the feature of therecording contents recorded thereon, such as a scene of an athleticmeeting, a shot of the motion picture, or a photo of the face of theartist, it becomes possible for the user to maintain, his or herpersonal library.

The method according to the present invention for printing the picturepattern on the printing object W, such as the tape cassette or the disccartridge, is hereinafter explained by referring to FIG. 2.

According to the printing method of the present invention, a highlyadhesive layer 110 is first formed on the surface of the printing objectW. A white ink receptive layer 111, containing the filler and thebinder, is then formed as the second layer. The full-color printing isthen performed, followed by ultimate top coating.

If the printing object W is a tape cassette shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B,the highly adhesive layer 110 as the first layer is formed on theportion of the outer surface of the tape cassette W excluding thetransparent window 101. The highly adhesive layer 110 plays the role ofan anchoring layer or an adhesive layer for improving the tight bondingbetween the second and the overlying layers 111, 112 and 113 on one handand the synthetic resin or the like cassette material on the other hand.

The components used for the highly adhesive layer 110, such as syntheticresin, which may be suitably selected by taking into account theadhesiveness thereof to the constituent material of the printing objectW, may be enumerated by (i) a solvent-based adhesive for dissolving andbonding of the cassette surface, (ii) a solvent-based silk screenprinting ink, (iii) alumina, water-soluble resin and water. Adouble-sided tape having its upper surface coated with an aqueous pasteand its lower surface coated with an adhesive for bonding to the outercassette surface may also be employed in place of the highly adhesivelayer 110.

The above component(s) is formed to a thickness of 50 to 500 μm,preferably to a thickness on the order of 200 μm.

The white ink receptive layer 111, containing the filler and the binder,is then formed as the second layer. The layer 111, also containingwhite-tinted pigments for assisting in the coloration of thewater-soluble paint ink, functions as an underlying layer for subsequentfull-color printing. This layer 111 is formed to a thickness of 3 to 100μm.

The paint applied for forming the layer 111 may have the followingillustrative composition:

    ______________________________________                                        silica            100                                                         gelatin           30                                                          (aqueous) synthetic resin                                                                        5                                                          water             200 to 280                                                  ______________________________________                                    

In the above composition, the amounts are indicated by parts by weight.

As the filler, alumina, calcium carbonate, talc, diatomaceous earth,zeolite or the like material capable of absorbing a large quantity ofwater, may also be employed, besides silica. It is desirable tofabricate the white ink receptive layer so that it is capable ofabsorbing the ink in an amount of not less than 10 ml/cm². As thebinder, water-soluble high molecular material, such as polyacrylamide,starch or gum arabic may also be employed in place of gelatin orpolyamide alkoxide. The synthetic resin may be exemplified by polyamideresin or alkyd resin. If the layer is formed by ink jet printing, theabove-given proportions of the components may be suitably changeddepending on the nozzle diameter, ground color of the printing object orthe contrast ratio.

The colored layer 112 is formed on the layer 111 by natural colorphotographic printing or full-color printing. The picture pattern 102formed by the full-color printing is a so-called logo-mark for assertingthat the product belongs to a certain and certain company, or variousdesigns for enhancing the commercial value of the product. Above all, ifthe printing object W is a video tape cassette, for example, the picturepattern is a design showing the characteristics of the recordingcontents of the video tape in two or more colors. The picture pattern102 includes an index 104, in white or intermediate color, which is awriting region for writing with a writing instrument 114, such as apencil.

The water-soluble paint ink may have the following composition:

    ______________________________________                                               dye      2 to 3                                                               diethyl alcohol                                                                        30                                                                   water    50 to 70                                                      ______________________________________                                    

The amounts are given parts by weight.

For full-color printing, plural different white ink receptive layers,such as the white ink receptive layer having acceptability with respectto the water-color ink or the white ink receptive layer havingacceptability with respect to the oil ink, are provided for enablingdesired ink types to be selectively employed for printing depending onthe desired standard or specified design. The full-color printing mayalso be performed by non-contact printing, such as ink-jet printing.Silk screen printing, PAD printing or offset printing may naturally beemployed.

Above all, if the non-contact ink jet printing as later explained isemployed, small quantity multi-variety printing becomes possible afterassembling.

If the printing object W is a tape cassette, for example, as shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B, stacked films consisting of the highly adhesive layer110, white ink receptive layer 111 and the colored layer 112 are notformed on the portion of the printing object corresponding to thetransparent window 101. On the other hand, if the printing object W is adisc cartridge, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, stacked filmsconsisting of the highly adhesive layer 110, white ink receptive layer111 and the colored layer 112 are not formed on the portion of theprinting object corresponding to the shutter 121 and the range ofmovement of the shutter 121.

The transparent top coat layer 113 is then formed on the colored layer112. In the case of the tape cassette, shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the topcoat layer 113 is formed on the portion of the cassette surfaceexcluding the area corresponding to at least the transparent window 101and the index 104, whereas, in the case of the disc cartridge shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B, the top coat layer 113 is formed on the portion of thecartridge surface excluding the area corresponding to at least theshutter 121 and the range of movement of the shutter 121. In thismanner, only the portion of the colored layer 112 corresponding to theindex 104 is exposed to outside via an opening 113a in the top coatlayer 113.

The top coat layer 113 plays the role of coating the colored layer 112and being permeated to the highly adhesive first layer 110 to improvetight bonding of the above layers 110 to 113 in their entirety.

The top coat layer 113 may be based on the oily substances, that is theresin soluble in organic solvents, or the aqueous substances, such aswater-soluble resin or aqueous varnish. Examples of the resins includealkyd resin, polyurethane, polyamide, phenolic resin, melamine resin,polyvinyl formal, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinylbutyral and synthetic rubber based synthetic resin latexes.

A top coating agent, obtained on adding 70 wt % of water and 10 to 20 wt% of the organic solvent, is applied to a thickness of 3 to 300 μm onthe colored layer 112 formed by the full-color printing. If theresistance against alcohols and scratch-proofness of the colored layer112 are taken into account, it is desirable for the coating agent to beapplied to a larger thickness of 200 to 300 μm.

With the printing method of the present invention, the top coating layer113 is formed on the portion of the colored layer 112 excluding theindex 104 of the picture pattern 102. Consequently, letters or symbolmarks may be entered with the writing instrument 114 on the surface ofthe colored layer 112 exposed to outside via an opening 113a, that isthe surface of the index 104.

With the above printing method, the top coat layer 113 is selectivelyformed on the colored layer 112 for forming the opening 113a in theportion of the top coat layer 113 in register with the index 104 of thepicture pattern 102. Alternatively, the colored layer 112 may beselectively formed so that the opening is formed in the portion of thepicture pattern 102 in register with the index 104. In such case, theunderlying white ink receptive layer 111 is preferably selected so thatit exhibits writability and printability for the intermediate color andresistance to writing pressure so that letters or the like entered withthe writing instrument 114 on the white ink receptive layer will belegible.

Referring to FIGS. 4 through 32, the printing system for implementingthe printing method according to the present invention is explained. Itis noted that, with the present printing system, full-color printing ismade of a color negative on the specified portions of the printingobject W with a non-contact printing head.

With the present printing system, plural tape cassettes contained in thecasing are processed by solid printing by way of an underlying layertreatment, followed by full-color printing with three prime colors andtop coating for forming a protective film. Thus the printing system ismade up of a printing object supplying unit 1, into which the pluraltape cassettes are introduced, a full-color printing unit 2, afull-color printing unit 3 and a top coating section 4, as shown forexample in FIG. 4.

With the present printing system, the white solid printing unit 2, thefull-color printing unit 3 and the top coating unit 4 are basically thesame in construction. Thus the following description of the printingsystem is centered around the description of the full-color printingunit 3.

The full-color printing unit 3 is made up of an image reader 6 forreading the picture information of a design manuscript 5 having a colordesign picture pattern thereon, an image processor 7 for converting theread-out signals into, a pre-set picture, a non-contact printing head 8operated by the information converted into the image, and a transportingmechanism 10 responsive to output signals of the image processor 7 fortransporting a container vessel 9 for the printed objects containingplural tape cassettes W as the printing objects in a timed relation tothe printing head 8, as shown in FIG. 5.

The image reader 6 has a color CCD scanner 11, by means of which theimage reader 6 reads the picture information for the design manuscript 5carrying the pre-designed color picture patterns, and color-separatesthe picture information on the pixel basis. If printing is to be made ona video tape cassette having a tape width equal to 8 mm, an A-4 formatcopy sheet carrying eight pictures patterns thereon is used as thedesign manuscript 5. If printing is to be made on a small-sizedmagneto-optical disc 64 mm in diameter, having audio signals continuingfor 74 minutes recorded thereon, an A-4 format copy sheet carrying 16picture patterns drawn thereon is used as the design manuscript 5. Thenumber of the picture patterns drawn on the design manuscript 5 is equalto the number of the tape cassettes on which printing is to be madesimultaneously.

The picture patterns drawn on the design manuscript 5 may be a logo-mark(ornamental design letters) for asserting that the product belongs to aparticular company or a variety of designs intended for enhancing thecommercial value of the product or stating characteristics of therecording contents recorded on the tape. Since the printing object W isa tape cassette in the present example, the picture pattern is arectangular pattern in e.g. a white ground color in register with thetransparent window 101 in the tape cassette W. Besides, the patternincludes areas in a specific neutral tint as the indices 104 in which toenter the letters or the like.

The design manuscript may be directly produced by graphic designing by aword processor or a computer 12. The pre-designed picture or imageinformation may be stored on a magnetic disk 13 such as a floppy disk.If the picture pattern is produced directly by the graphic designing, itis directly outputted to the picture processor 7 via the computer 12. Ifthe picture information is stored on the magnetic disk 13, it isoutputted to the computer 12 and subsequently to the picture processor7. This eliminates the necessity of preparing the design manuscript 5 toreduce the reading time significantly.

The picture processor 7 color-separates R, G and B color manuscriptdigital signals, color-separated on the pixel basis by the image reader6, into prime colors R, G and B. The picture processor 7 outputs thecolor-separated color digital signals to the printing head 8, as laterexplained, while outputting operating signals to the transportingmechanism 10 in synchronism with the movement of the printing head 8.

The printing head 8 is an ink-jet recording system printing head inwhich the ink is ejected from the forward end of a fine nozzle towardsthe printing object for effecting printing in a non-contact state. Theprinting head 8 is responsive to the color-separated digital signalsoutputted from the picture processor 7 to effect full-color printing onthe portions of the tape cassette W specified for printing.

That is, the printing head 8 is provided to a head actuating mechanism15 that is supporting the printing head 8 with freely movementvertically and horizontally to the plural tape cassettes W containedcontainer vessel 9, as shown in FIG. 6. The printing head 8 ejects inkfrom nozzles provided in a head part 16 to effect full-color printing onthe portions of the tape cassette W specified for printing.

To the printing head 8 are connected ink pipes 18 led out of ink tanks17 in which three prime colors of cyan, magenta and yellow and sepia arestored. The ink pipes 18 led out of the ink tanks 17 are connected tonozzles provided in a head part 16 of the printing head 8. The ink tanks17 are connected to the picture processor 7 and come into operationresponsive to the color-separated digital signals for supplying the inksto the respective nozzles.

The printing head 8 is provided with a detector for detecting surfaceirregularities of the printing object W. The detector includes a pair ofprofiling sensors 21 and 22 provided with contactors 19 and 20 contactedwith the surface of the tape cassette W, as shown for example in FIGS. 8and 9. The profiling sensors 21, 22 are secured to the head part 16 in astraight line extending along the running direction of the tapecassettes W, with the foremost parts of the contactors 19 and 20projected from the ink ejecting surface of the head part 16.

These contactors 19 and 20 are capable of omnidirectional detectionthrough an angular extent of 360°, and are contacted with the surface ofthe tape cassette W for supplying detection signals corresponding to thesurface irregularities of the tape cassette to a system controller aslater explained. Based on the detection signals, the head actuatingmechanism 15 is actuated under commands from the system controller tocontrol the vertical height of the printing head 8.

In this manner, the distance of the printing head 8 from the tapecassette W may be maintained constant at all times irrespective ofwhether the tape cassette surface is a planar surface, an irregularsurface, an inclined surface or a curved surface. The result is thatprinting may be made from the planar surface continuously to theirregular surface, inclined surface or the curved surface with a highprinting quality without color fluctuations or color dropout or withoutproducing blurred letter edges. The printing head 8 is free of directcontact with the tape cassette W, so that printing may be made to afinish without an external pressure being exerted to the tape cassetteW.

As the detection device for detecting the irregularities on the surfaceof the tape cassette W, any of the non-contact sensors, such as thelaser displacement sensor, ultrasonic sensor or the photoelectric sensormay be employed. Taking an example of the laser displacement sensors,four laser displacement sensors 22, 23, 24 and 25 are secured to thehead part 16 in a straight line extending along the running direction ofthe tape cassette W, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

Thus the laser displacement sensors 23, 24, 25 and 26 output detectionsignals conforming to the surface irregularities on the tape cassette.These detection signals are outputted to the system controller as laterexplained. The head actuating mechanism 15 is actuated under thecommands from the system controller based on the detection signals tocontrol the vertical position of the printing head 8.

The laser displacement sensors 23 to 26 are provided in association withprinting heads 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d provided for respective colors, asshown in FIG. 12. The vertical positions of the printing heads 8a to 8dmay be controlled independently relative to the tape cassette W on thebasis of detection signals supplied from the laser displacement sensors23 to 26.

By providing the detector detecting surface irregularities on theprinting object W on the printing head 8, high-quality printing may bemade on any printing objects regardless of the shape of the printingobjects and of whether the printing object is hard or soft. By theposition-controlled printing head 8, the picture pattern may be printedcontinuously from a curved surface 28a of an opening/closing lid 28 upto a concave surface 27a and a planar surface 27b of the tape cassettemain member.

If the printing object is an audio tape cassette 29, the verticalposition of the printing head 8 relative to the audio tape cassette 29is similarly controlled by the profiling sensors 21, 22, as shown inFIG. 14. By the position-controlled printing head 8, the picture patternmay be printed continuously from a concave surface 29a up to a planarsurface 29b of the tape cassette main member.

If the printing object is a profiled plastic plate 33, such as acontainer casing, having curved surfaces 33a, irregular surfaces 33b andinclined surfaces 33c, existing together, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16,the vertical position of the printing head 8 relative to the plasticplate 33 is controlled by a non-contact sensor 34, such as an ultrasonicsensor or a photoelectric sensor. The picture pattern may be printedcontinuously from curved surfaces 33a up to irregular surfaces 33b andinclined surfaces 33c by the position-controlled printing head 8. In theexample shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, letters A are printed on the printingobject.

The transporting mechanism 10 is responsive to an actuating outputsignal from the picture processor 7 to transport the container vessel 9containing plural tape cassettes W in a timed relation to the scanningof the printing head 8. The container vessel 9 is transported in a timedrelation to the scanning by the printing head 8 for assuringhigh-quality printing. The transporting mechanism 10 includes feed units38, 39 for transporting the container vessel 9 along a pair of spacedapart parallel transporting rails 36, 37 as shown in FIG. 17.

The feed units 38 and 39 are made up of a pair of parallel feed rails40, 41 mounted below the transporting rails 36, 37 and slides 42, 43adapted for sliding on these feed rails 40, 41. The slides 42, 43 areprovided with tray feed hooks 46, 47 adapted for being passed throughfeed hook holes 44, 45 formed in the container vessel 9.

These tray feed hooks 46, 47 are adapted for being protruded out of orreceded into the inside of the slides 42, 43. The tray feed hooks 46, 47are protruded out of the slides 42, 43 when the container vessel 9 is tobe delivered to the top coating section 4 of the next step, while beingreceded into the inside of the slides 42, 43 otherwise.

The feed units 38, 39 are controlled by a sequencer 48 and a controller49. That is, when the container vessel 9 containing tape cassettes Wprocessed with white solid printing by the preceding step is supplied tothe feed units, the feed hook 46 associated with the feed unit 38 isprotruded out of the slide 42 so as to be engaged in the associated feedhook hole 44. The container vessel 9 is fed in synchronism with thescanning of the printing head 8 and, after the end of the full-colorprinting, is fed to the top coating section 4 of the next step.

The other feed unit 39 is returned as from the position at which thefeed unit has delivered the container vessel 9 to the top coating unit4, at a speed faster than the transfer speed used for printing, with thefeed hook 47 remaining receded into the inside of the slide 43.Consequently, by the alternate feed operation of the two feed units 38,39, the container vessel 9, having housed therein the white solidprinted tape cassettes W, may be continuously transported to the topcoating section 4 of the next step without interruptions.

The transporting mechanism 10 includes stops 50, 51 for halting thecontainer vessel 9 at a pre-set position. These stops 50, 51 are made upof slide rails 52, 53 and 54, 55, mounted at right angles to and on bothsides of the transporting rails 36, 37, and positioning members 56, 57and 58, 59 slid on the slide rails 52, 53 and 54, 55 for positioning thecontainer vessel 9.

The positioning members 56, 57 and 58, 59 are slid on the slide rails52, 53 and 54, 55 into abutment with the corners of the container vessel9 for regulating the position of the container vessel 9. These stops 50,51 are provided at an area for positioning the container vessel 9,transported from the white solid printing section 2 as far as thefull-color printing section 3, in position for full-color printing, andat the top coating section of the next step, respectively.

It is noted that the operation in the above-described full-colorprinting unit 3 is performed in accordance with the processing blockdiagram shown in FIG. 7. First, the design manuscript 5, carryingpre-designed color picture patterns, is read by a color CCD scanner 11,and the picture information thus read is color-separated on the pixelbasis. Alternatively, the picture information resulting from the graphicdesigning by the computer 12 is directly outputted to the pictureprocessor 7. Still alternatively, the picture or image informationstored on the magnetic disk 13 is directly outputted to the pictureprocessor 7.

The digital color manuscript signals, color-separated on the pixelbasis, are color-separated by the picture processor 7 for each of the R,G and B colors. Subsequently, the color-separated digital signals areoutputted at the printing head 8, at the same time as operating signalsactuating the container vessel 9 containing tape cassettes W areoutputted.

The printing head 8, the head actuating mechanism 15 and thetransporting mechanism 10 are controlled at this time by a systemcontroller 62. The container vessel 9 is moved in a timed relation tothe movement of the printing head 8 under control by the systemcontroller 62. At this, time, detection signals from the profilingsensors 21, 22 provided on the printing head 8 are transmitted to thesystem controller 62. The head actuating mechanism 15 is controlled by acorresponding output of the system controller 62 so that the distancebetween the printing head 8 and the tape cassette W will be constant.

Under the above-described controlled conditions, the color inks areselectively ejected via the ink nozzles of the printing head 8 foreffectuating full-color printing on the tape cassette W on the basis ofthe pre-set picture information. Finally, the printed surface isfinished by a pressure roll 63.

The white solid printing unit 2 is constructed similarly to thefull-color printing unit 3. That is, the picture or image informationstored on the magnetic disk 13 is directly outputted to the computer 12,the corresponding information of which is outputted to the pictureprocessor 7. Based on output signals of the picture processor 7, thenon-contact printing head 8 and the container vessel 9 for the printingobjects are moved in unison with each other, under control by the systemcontroller 62, for effectuating white solid printing on the tapecassette W.

The white solid printing is effectuated as an underlying groundtreatment in readiness for the next full-color printing step, andconsists in printing the ink composed of white-tinted pigmentscontaining high density anchoring agents on the printing object W forforming the highly adhesive layer 110 and the white-tinted ink receptivelayer 111 on the printing object W, as shown in FIG. 2. In the case ofthe tape cassette W, which is of the gray to black color proper to theresin, it is necessary to effectuate the white solid printing four timesor so for improving the coloration. The picture information for thisstep includes the shell window producing pattern if the printing objectis the tape cassette W.

The white solid printing unit 2 includes a handling mechanism 64 fortransferring the container vessel 9, containing plural tape cassettes Wto be supplied to the supplying unit 1, to the white solid printing unit2. The handling mechanism 64 includes a handling unit 65 for holding thecontainer vessel 9 by the suction under vacuum, as shown in FIG. 18.

The handling unit 65 is moved along a first rail 66 in a direction shownby an arrow X in FIG. 18, while being moved along a second rail 67,mounted at right angles to the first rail 66, in a direction shown by anarrow Y in FIG. 18. The handling unit 65 is also movable in a directionshown by an arrow Z in FIG. 18 by a lifting mechanism 68 provided on thesecond rail 67. The handling unit 65 is capable of three-dimensionalmovement as indicated by the arrows X, Y and Z in FIG. 18 under controlby a control unit made up of a sequencer 69 and a controller 70.

Thus the container vessel 9 supplied to the supply unit 1 for theprinting objects is handled and transferred to the white solid printingunit 2 by the movement of the handling unit 65. Meanwhile, the handlingunit 65 is driven by a remote-control unit 71 connected to thecontroller 70.

The top coating unit 4 is arranged and constructed similarly to thefull-color printing unit 3. That is, the picture or image informationstored on the magnetic disk 13 is directly outputted to the computer 12,the corresponding information of which is outputted to the pictureprocessor 7. The picture or image information stored on the magneticdisk 13 is the pattern for forming a protective film conforming to thepicture pattern drawn on the design manuscript 5, that is the picturepattern 102 printed on the tape cassette W. The pixel registration ofthe pattern is so made that the tape cassette portion corresponding tothe picture pattern 102 is pixel-registered by e.g. logic level "1" andthe white-ground tape cassette portion and the tape cassette portioncorresponding to the index 104 are pixel-registered by e.g. logic level"0".

The non-contact printing head 8 and the container vessel 9 areresponsive to output signals from the picture processor 7 so as to bemoved in unison on the basis of output signals from the pictureprocessor 7 for effectuating top coating on the tape cassette W. Thatis, the printing head 8 is controlled for applying the top coating onthe tape cassette W so that the top coating layer 113 is formed only onthe tape cassette portion pixel-registered as logic level "1" and thetop coating layer 113 is not formed on the tape cassette portionpixel-registered as the logic level "0". The top coating is theoperating step of forming the transparent top coating layer 113 for thepurpose of improving resistance to alcohols and scratch-proofness of thefull-color printed picture pattern.

Thus the portion of the transparent window 101 of the tape cassette W,processed by the above-described printing system with white solidprinting, full-color printing and top coating, is free of stacked layersconsisting of the highly adhesive layer 110, white-tinted ink receptivelayer 111, full-color printing layer or colored layer 112 and the topcoating layer 113, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2. Although the stackedlayers up to the full-color layer 112 are formed on the portion of theindex 104 of the tape cassette W, the top coating layer 113 is notformed as the upper most layer.

Thus the user of the tape cassette W from the printing process is ableto enter letters or other symbol marks on the portion of the index 104of the tape cassette W with the writing instrument 114.

The printing object supplying unit 1 is a zone in which to store a largenumber of dedicated printing object container vessels 9 in each of whichplural tape cadettes W from the molding process are arrayed. In thepresent embodiment, a plurality of, herein 12, 8-mm wide video tapecadettes W, are arranged in a tray main member 72 having the size of anA-4 format copy sheet, and clamped by a pair of clamps 73, 74, as shownin FIGS. 19 and 20.

These clamps 73, 74 are rotatably arranged along the longitudinallateral sides of the tray main member 72 and adapted for retaining theprinting surface of the tape cassette W by key-shaped terminal retentionmembers 75, 76. The clamps are perpetually biased by torsion springs,not shown, in a direction of clamping the tape cassette W in position.The tray main member 72 is formed with a transfer engaging lug 77 havingthe feed hook holes 44, 45 adapted for being engaged by the tray feedhooks 46, 47 of the transporting mechanism 10, respectively.

For assuring positive loading of the tape cassette W on the containervessel 9 for printing objects, positioning pins 80, 81 may be set at thepositions on the tray main member 72 in register with reel hub insertingopenings 78, 79 formed in the tape cassette W, as shown for example inFIG. 21.

For full-color printing on a plastic plate 87 used for forming thecontainer casing or the like, plural plastic plates 87 are arrayed inthe container vessel 9, as shown in FIG. 22. For assuring positiveloading of the plastic plates 87 on the container vessel 9, the traymain member 72 is formed with plural suction holes 91 for evacuation,and evacuation is carried out via these suction holes 91 for holding thetape cassettes W under suction effects on the tray main member 72, asshown in FIGS. 24 and 25. An evacuation hose 92 may be drawn out at alateral surface of the tray main member 72.

For securing the plastic plates 87 to the container vessel 9, it is alsopossible to provide L-shaped clamps 93, 94, adapted to be moved bysprings, not shown, at the diagonally opposite corner sections of thecontainer vessel 9, for securing the plastic plates 87 by these movableclamps 93, 94, as shown in FIG. 25.

With the above-described printing system, the white solid printing, thefull-color printing and the top coating are continuously performed inthe following manner.

First, a plurality of tape cassettes W from the molding process arearrayed and clamped in the printing object container vessel 9 so as tobe laid in store. A large number of the container vessels 9, laid instore, are handled from the supply unit 1 and transferred to the whitesolid printing section 2. In the white solid printing section 2, whitesolid printing is performed on the areas of the tape cassette Wspecified for printing. The white solid printing is performed in anon-contact manner on the basis of the picture or image information fromthe magnetic disk 13, outputted from the computer 12, so that thescanning by the printing head 8 occurs in unison with the transfermovement of the printing object container vessel 9.

After the end of the white solid printing, the container vessel 9 istransferred by the transporting mechanism 10 to the full-color printingunit 3 of the next step. In the full-color printing unit 3, full-colorprinting is made in the non-contact manner on the portion of the tapecassette specified for printing, based on the picture information asread by the color CCD scanner 11, with the scanning of the printing head8 being in unison with the feed movement of the printing objectcontainer vessel 9.

After the end of the full-color printing, the printing object containervessel 9 is transferred by the transporting mechanism 10 to the topcoating section 4 of the final step. In the top coating section 4, a topcoating layer is formed under a non-contact state in a full colorprinted area of the printing object based on the picture or imageinformation from the magnetic disk 13 outputted from the computer 12,with the scanning of the printing head 8 being in unison with the feed(transfer) movement of the container vessel 9. Finally, the printedsurface is finished by the pressure roll 63 to complete the printing.

As a result, the profiled plastic plate 33 has the adhesive layer 110and the white-tinted ink receptive layer 111 formed on the curvedsurface 33a, irregular surface 33b and inclined surface 33c, as shown inFIGS. 16 and 17. A full-color printed picture color layer 112 is formedthereon, and a top coating layer 113 is selectively formed thereon. Thetape cassette W, shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, has the adhesive layer 110and the white ink receptive layer 111 formed on its outer surface, afull-color printed picture pattern layer or a colored layer 112 formedthereon, and a top coating layer 113 selectively formed thereon, asshown in FIG. 2. Above all, the top coating layer 113 is formed on theportion of the full color printed colored layer 112 excluding the index104.

With the above-described printing system, the signals read by the imagereader 6 are transformed into a pre-set picture and the information thustransformed into the picture is supplied to the non-contact printinghead 8. Alternatively, the replay signals reproduced from the magneticdisk 13 having the picture information stored thereon are transformedinto a picture and the information thus transformed into the picture issupplied to the non-contact printing head 8 for printing on the printingobject W. As a result, printing may be made directly by the printinghead 8 on the printing object W based on the output picture information.

Consequently, the pains-taking operations of master making, master plateexchange, color plate registration, ink color adjustment or inkviscosity adjustment, required in the conventional process, may beeliminated to improve the productivity as well as to reduce productioncosts. Since the picture output information transformed into electricalsignals is produced, high-quality printing may be made from the outsetfor improving the yield significantly. Besides, since the printing head8 is not contacted directly with the printing object W, printing may bemade without exerting an external pressure to the printing object Wirrespective of whether or not the printing object is hard or soft.Since the picture is outputted directly, color equilibrium may beautomatically realized with digital duplication. Besides, the printingmay be made under numerical control for simplifying the printingprocess.

On the other hand, with the present printing system, the non-contactprinting head 8 may have its height relative to the printing object Wcontrolled on the basis of a detection output of the detector detectingsurface irregularities of the printing object W. Thus the printing maybe made at all times while a pre-set distance is perpetually maintainedbetween the printing head 8 and the printing object W to maintain theprinting head at a pre-set height relative to the printing objectdepending on the surface irregularities of the printing object W. Thusthe ink film thickness may be expressed as digital numerical values torealize high-quality printing. Besides, printing may be madecontinuously from the planar area up to the irregular area, inclinedarea, curved area, elliptical area or the polygonal area withoutproducing color fluctuations, color fading or blurred letter edgesdespite the presence of warping, bending or irregularities in theprinting object W.

With the container vessel 9 for the printing objects, employed for theabove-described printing system, a large number of printing operationsmay be made simultaneously, because plural printing objects are held inposition in the container vessel 9. In addition, by reading plural colorpatterns drawn on the design manuscript 5 by the color CCD scanner 11and printing the color picture patterns by the contactless printing head8, using the container vessel 9, different picture patterns may beprinted on the plural printing objects W arrayed in the container vessel9, so that small quantity multi-variety printing or simultaneousprinting of different designs may be achieved highly efficiently.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container casing for a recording media having amain casing member having the recording media housed therein,comprising:a highly adhesive layer formed on an outer surface of saidmain casing member; an ink receptive layer provided on said adhesivelayer; a colored layer printed on said ink receptive layer; a protectivelayer printed on said colored layer for protecting the colored layer;and means defining an opening in said protective layer for exposing apart of said colored layer and defining an area of said colored layerwhich is unprotected and on which writing can be formed.
 2. A containercasing for recording media having a main casing member having therecording media housed therein, comprising:a recessed index area onwhich writing may be made, said recessed index area being defined by acolored layer printed on an outer surface of the main casing member, anda protective layer which is printed over predetermined portions of saidcolored layer to prevent writing being formed thereon, said protectivelayer surrounding and recessing said index area.